News

The City Administration is in the process of developing what it hopes will be a comprehensive plan to ease homelessness on O’ahu. The plan is due May 1st. Meanwhile, as HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, UH students at the John A. Burns School of Medicine conducted a workshop to address the problem ....

April 16th is National Healthcare Decisions Day and we will be talking about the local efforts in Hawaii from the Compassion and Choices Hawaii organization to support, educate, and advocate for choice and care at the end of life.

A string of drownings across all Hawaii islands have put a new focus on ocean safety, especially targeted at tourists. As many as 19 people have drowned so far this year --- 11 on the island of Kauai. HPR's Molly Solomon takes a closer look at what the state is doing to promote awareness.

There’s a new development this week in a multi-billion dollar train project that will change the look of a city. It’s not Honolulu—but Bangkok. And the next step of the project involves the stock market. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Government workers who deal with documents sometimes come across cases of mistaken identity. But a recent situation in China takes the concept to a new level. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

Tomorrow night begins the first night of competition for the week-long Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in Hilo. From Hawaii Island, HPR's Sherry Bracken gives us an update on some of the festival's most challenging aspects.

67 years ago, the Hilo coast of Hawaii Island was devastated by a tsunami. It killed 159 people—and changed the nature of Hilo’s waterfront. The anniversary also carries a significance that remains important today. HPR’s Molly Solomon reports.

Hawai’i lawmakers will meet in conference committee soon to draft an agreement on the state’s 24 billion dollar operating budget for the next two years. Half of that money will have to come from state taxes …and a panel of lawmakers and government officials discussed fiscal policy as it relates to the 2013 legislative session. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports …

Bill Cosby’s career has spanned decades, styles and media platforms. Along the way, he picked up a PhD in Education, which has remained a theme in his life. Ahead of a pair of island dates, he told HPR’s Dave Lawrence, that at 75, he’s been thinking about some lessons from the past.

Bill Cosby is at the MACC in Kahului Friday and the Blaisdell Concert Hall in Honolulu Saturday. Hear more of this conversation below.

In our latest installment of HPR’s series, “Feeding Ourselves: Hawai’i’s Food Future”, we take a look at an emerging technology…that could change the way we grow our food. It’s a method of growing crops and fish at the same time….and it uses less than 5% of the water that traditional farming does. HPR’s Molly Solomon reports on this sustainable system that’s popping up in backyards across the islands.

Next time on Bytemarks Cafe, we’ll find out how innovation and technology are creating new dining experiences. We’ll talk about pop up restaurants, food trucks, mobile apps, hacking the kitchen and new ways we can learn about the food we consume.

The future of growing food in Hawai’i rests on the ability of farmers to continue making a living. According to one UH study, farmers receive only 19 cents out of each dollar spent on locally grown produce and vegetables. The rest of the money goes to packaging, marketing, refrigeration and transportation. But one family-owned farm has revamped its strategy and business model and has branched out into new venues. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation is working on the next step of the city’s multi-billion dollar rail project. Officials are preparing a report on their archeological survey, which was completed last month. Across the Pacific, another rail project is at a very different stage—HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Gerald Clayton is a composer and pianist making waves in diverse music circles. A Presidential Scholar in the Arts, Clayton recently won the Edison award for best international jazz album and the New York Times hails his "huge, authoritative presence" onstage. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa spoke with him as he prepares for a concert in Honolulu.

Hawaii agriculture officials say that in the 1970’s, there were 120 milk operations around the state. Today, there are only two. And they’re both on the big island of Hawaii. HPR's Sherry Bracken has more.

Discussions about food in Hawai’i often drift to the issue of cost. In this installment of HPR’s series, “Feeding Ourselves: Hawai’i’s Food Future”, HPR’s Noe Tanigawa looks at what drives the prices we pay.

This week, Hawaii Public Radio is taking a closer look at food in the islands. We call it “Feeding Ourselves, Hawaii’s Food Future.” All week, we’ll report on a number of issues relating to food. Today, we start with people. The future of locally-grown food not only depends on land, water and crops—it also depends on farmers. The average age of a farmer in Hawaii is now sixty. But there’s one farm in Waianae that’s leading a youth movement—growing not only food, but also growing farmers. HPR’s Molly Solomon reports…

According to a recent report by the state, the number of cattle raised in Hawaii decreased steadily for about thirty years, starting in 1970. There’s been a bit of an increase since about 2002, and today cattle are raised on each of the major islands. But on Hawaii Island, the industry is facing some challenges to its growth. HPR’s Sherry Bracken reports.

The Kumu Hula and prolific composer talks about the first poem he wrote in grade school, his songwriting philosophy and his latest release, “Hali`a i ka Poli.” Hear the complete interview from “Kanikapila Sunday” on March 24, 2013.

Next month Boston band the Dropkick Murphys return to the islands. The group has been active since the late 90’s, though prominent featuring of their music in the film The Departed considerably boosted their profile. Longtime drummer Matt Kelly told HPR’s Dave Lawrence about his connections to Hawai`i.

Robin and Linda Williams are performers who’ve been closely associated with the public radio show A Prairie Home Companion for decades. Ahead of their debut island tour, they explained to HPR’s Dave Lawrence how the pair came together back in 1971.

Common Bond is the upcoming solo album from Billy Joel sax player/Ringo Starr All Starr Band Music Director Mark Rivera. It's also a good way to describe his connection to The Beatles, having worked with three of the Fab Four, and in a series encore recorded in Sydney, he explained to HPR’s Dave Lawrence how the journey started with John Lennon.

The Honolulu City Council will convene a special meeting tomorrow afternoon to discuss homeless housing and services on Oahu in an effort to look at solutions for this growing problem. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka accompanied a team of outreach workers who meet with the homeless on the streets year-round.

The nicest thing about the new free HPR streaming app for iPhone is its ease of use, providing access to HPR’s two live streams anywhere you have an iPhone and an internet connection. The HPR app for iPhone is as simple as using your radio. Once the app is downloaded from the app store, simply click on the radio logo for the stream you wish to listen to. Within seconds the stream loads and begins playing the live stream of the station you chose. It’s that simple.

Graduate students at UH Manoa haven’t received a raise in nearly a decade. This low pay combined with Hawaii’s high cost of living is making life for graduate students in Hawaii a struggle, forcing many to get second jobs to supplement their income. HPR’s Molly Solomon reports.

He’s sold over 250 million albums around the world; is credited with Britain's first rock and roll song; and Beatle John Lennon once stated that before this performer came along, “there had been nothing worth listening to in British music”. We’re talking about entertainer and philanthropist Sir Cliff Richard. HPR’s Dave Lawrence caught up with him during a recent tour stop in Sydney, Australia.

See and hear the complete interview with Sir Cliff Richard below, recorded 12 February 2013 during his run at the Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia.